Releasable fastening device for fastening an article on a support frame

Abstract

A fastening device includes a socket member having a socket hole, a locking ring including a pair of pivotal ring halves which are pivotable to move toward or away from each other between a ring-closing position and a ring-opening position, and a pair of plug members respectively connected to the ring halves. The plug members are insertable into the socket hole when the ring halves are in the ring-closing position. The fastening device may be used to fasten an infant seat to a stroller frame.

1 . A fastening device for fastening an infant seat to a support frame, the fastening device comprising: 
 a socket member adapted to be fixed to the support frame and having a socket hole;    a locking ring adapted to connect with the infant seat, and including a pair of pivotal ring halves which are pivotable to move toward or away from each other between a ring-closing position and a ring-opening position; and    a pair of plug members respectively connected to said ring halves, said plug members being insertable into said socket hole when said ring halves are in said ring-closing position.    
     
     
         2 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said locking ring further includes a saddle piece adapted to engage an armrest of the infant seat, each of said ring halves having opposite first and second ends, said first ends of said ring halves being pivoted to said saddle piece, said plug members being connected respectively to said ring halves proximate to said second ends of said ring halves.  
     
     
         3 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said saddle piece has a substantially U-shaped cross-section and includes two opposite longitudinal walls and a bight portion bridging said longitudinal walls, said first ends of said ring halves being pivoted to one of said longitudinal walls at two longitudinally spaced-apart positions.  
     
     
         4 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said locking ring further includes two abutment blocks respectively connected to said ring halves proximate to said second ends, said plug members being formed integrally with said abutment blocks, respectively.  
     
     
         5 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said abutment blocks have abutment surfaces which abut against each other when said ring halves are in said ring-closing position.  
     
     
         6 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plug retainer connected to said socket member, said plug members are in a stack when said ring halves are in said ring-closing position, said plug members having plug holes which are aligned with each other when said plug members are stacked, said plug retainer being extendable into said plug holes when said plug members are inserted into said socket hole.  
     
     
         7 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said socket member further includes a mounting plate adapted to be mounted on the support frame, a socket wall connected to said mounting plate and defining said socket hole with said mounting plate, and a retaining hole formed in said socket wall.  
     
     
         8 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a plug retainer which has a retaining plate connected pivotally to said mounting plate, and a retaining pin projecting from said retaining plate to extend into said socket hole for engagement with said plug members.  
     
     
         9 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said plug retainer further includes a hook provided on said retaining plate, said socket member further including a latch to engage said hook.  
     
     
         10 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plug members include engagement elements which are interengageable when said ring halves are in said ring-closing position.  
     
     
         11 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said engagement elements include an engagement recess and an engagement protrusion.  
     
     
         12 . A fastening device comprising: 
 a socket member having a socket hole;    a locking ring including a pair of pivotal ring halves which are pivotable to move toward or away from each other between a ring-closing position and a ring-opening position; and    a pair of plug members respectively connected to said ring halves, said plug members being insertable into said socket hole when said ring halves are in said ring-closing position.    
     
     
         13 . The fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plug retainer disposed on said socket member for retaining said plug members within said socket hole.